Addressing a packed hall at the Regional Youth Peace Conference in the Upper East Region, Akuka Yakubu, Regional Programme Manager for ActionAid Ghana, delivered a stirring message in celebration of International Youth Day and ActionAid Ghana’s 35th anniversary.
Yakubu’s speech set the tone for a day focused on unity, resilience, and the transformative power of youth-led peacebuilding.
Reflecting on more than three decades of ActionAid Ghana’s work, Yakubu highlighted the organisation’s unwavering commitment to supporting communities, women, youth, and vulnerable groups. “For more than three decades, ActionAid Ghana has stood with communities, women, youth, and vulnerable groups to challenge injustice, promote human rights, and foster sustainable development,” he noted.
He reminded the assembled youth that the future of schools, communities, and the nation rests in their hands. Beyond humanitarian aid, he said, ActionAid Ghana is dedicated to empowering young people to lead transformative change, create safe and inclusive spaces, and challenge injustice wherever it occurs.
Yakubu recounted ActionAid’s efforts in the Upper East Region, working alongside youth groups, women’s collectives, schools, and local authorities to create better learning environments, reduce unemployment, and resolve tensions before they escalate. Notably, he celebrated the formation of youth-led movements like Activista, the Young Urban Women’s Movement, and Young Female Platforms, which have groomed a new generation of community leaders.
“We will continue to stand with young people, because we know that when young people lead, communities thrive,” he declared.
The conference’s theme, “Peaceful Communities, Safe Schools: The Youth as Ambassadors of Peace,” struck a timely chord. Yakubu lamented recent incidents of violence and unrest in schools and communities. He pointed to the region’s challenges, tribal and land disputes, chieftaincy conflicts, and spillover insecurity from the Sahel, as threats to peace and development. “Our region is a proud one, rich in culture, community solidarity, and resilience. Yet, we cannot ignore the truth: the Upper East Region sits at a fragile crossroads.”
He recounted how violence had disrupted several secondary schools in the region this year, affecting even innocent and peaceful students. Communities such as Bawku, he said, had borne the brunt of conflict for too long. Yet, Yakubu encouraged the youth to be the generation that breaks the cycle: “We are the youth who choose peace over revenge, dialogue over violence, and cooperation over conflict.”
He called on young people to be ambassadors of peace in their schools and communities, to work with teachers, parents, and local authorities, and to reject violence in favour of dialogue and partnership. “True strength is the ability to hold dialogue when anger tells you to fight. True strength is protecting the vulnerable when apathy tempts you to look away. True strength is standing for peace when the crowd demands war.”
Yakubu also issued a challenge to the youth:
A. Educate fellow students about peace and responsibility in their schools.
B. Champion peace in their communities through honest dialogue and understanding.
C. Work hand-in-hand with teachers, parents, and local leaders to sustain peace.
In his concluding remarks, Yakubu called on the government and stakeholders to prioritize peace education, integrate socio-emotional learning, and establish Peace and Integrity Clubs in schools. He urged for youth voices to be amplified in peace and security initiatives, strong community, school collaborations, and robust student protection systems. He also advocated for empowering youth as leaders in peacebuilding, with support from the National Youth Authority, civil society, and partners such as ActionAid.
“As young people, the responsibility is ours. The future will judge us not by our intentions, but by our actions. The time to act is now! So let us act boldly, passionately, and purposefully,” Yakubu concluded, commending all those who have worked for peace in the region and calling for a united front to create a stronger, more peaceful Upper East Region.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
